Hand-guided motor-driven bark removing plow



Nov. 24, 1953 L. E. PHILLIPS HAND-GUIDED MOTOR-DRIVEN BARK REMOVING PLOW Filed Nov. 15. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 24, 1953 1.. E. PHILLIPS 2,660,207

HAND-GUIDED MOTOR-DRIVEN BARK REMOVING PLOW Filed Nov. 15. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HAND-GUIDED MOTOR-DRIVEN BARK REMOVING PLOW Filed Nov. 13. 1951 L. E. PHILLIPS Nov. 24, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR.

Nov. 24, 1953 E. PHILLIPS ,660,

HAND-GUIDED MOTOR-DRIVEN BARK REMOVING PLOW Filed Nov. 13, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 24, 1953 HAND-GUIDED MOTOR-DRIVEN BARK REMOVING PLOW Lester E. PliillipaiCazadero. Calif assignoi' of one-half to James 0. Hamilton; Santa Rosa,

Calif.

Application November 13, 1951, saw No. 255,975

7 c (01. i -cos) My present invention relates to log bark peelg and more in particularto a portable log bark [peeler for use by lumbermen. p p

. Heretofore, in the logging camps, log peeling has been a slow and laborsome procedure. Large logs such as large redwood logs have a very thick bark which must be removed before sawing into logs andlumber to preventdamageto the large and very expensive saws used.

The conventional method of peeling such logs has been to chip or break the bark off with iron bars somewhat like crow-bars before the logs go to the mill for processing into lumber. This is a'slow process and very tiresome work as these bars'weigh in the neighborhood of fifteen pounds more or less. In the course of one day a workman lifts many thousands of pounds of weight. M present invention not only eliminates the hard work involved in peeling logs but makes it possible for one man to accomplish this operation easily and in fact do more work in a given length of time than can be accomplished with a whole crew of men.

L The principal object of my invention is to provide a portable power operated log peeler which is compact and simple in operation and constructed with a minimum of parts, which is held and controlled by the two hands of the operator when in operation, and which is provided with a plow member with traction wheels that may be raised or lowered at will without retracting or moving the plow member thus permitting the driving motorto increase its torque whenslowed down by heavy duty..

7 'Another "object of the invention is to provide a freely pivoted plow member having a skirt with alowercurved edge which rides on the log but "the point of which wedges between the bark and the wood surface. of the log, the weight of the machine being carried on the wheels of the ma- "chine'and .the rear portion of the skirt of the plow, substantially below the pivot point of the low.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lock between the plow and the body of the machine so that when desired a threepoint contact on the log may be obtained between the two traction wheels and the contact edge of the plow.

Other objects and novel features comprising the construction and operation of my invention will be more apparent as the description of the same progresses. t l

- Referring more in detail to the drawings illustrating theinventionbroken out for convenience.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the machine. The

oppositeside is a duplicate except that it is otherhand-to.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing the plow portion freely pivoted and unlocked from the body portion.

Fig. 4 is, a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. Zportions of which arein levation. .Fig. 5 is a cross section takenon the line. 5 5

Fig. 1, thenear traction wheel being removed and other portions broken away to better show the driving mechanism and a portion of them side of the traction wheel on the far side. ,Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5 particularly showing the far side pivot betweenthe plow portion and the body of the machine. r Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5 showing the gear train back of the traction wheels. A

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the face of oneofthe traction wheels. l s s Fig. 9 is a'vertical section and elevationtaken on the joint line of the split casing of the body portion and shows a modified form of motive power, the motor of which is shown in elevation. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the angle indicated by the arrow A of Fig. 9 and showing the operating valve. I I l 1, Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the linev llll of Fig. 9 and showing the arrangement of the motor. I

Referring more in detail to the drawings. ill and II indicate the far and near halves of the split casing comprising the heretofore referred tobody portion.- Each ofthese'casings are, provided with handle portions la and Ila having electrical control switches 10b and Ill).

Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive show a casing adapted for an electric motor drive. Figs. 9; 10 and 11 show a casing adapted for a compressed air motor, both types of machines are alike except for the substitution of air control valve shown in Fig. 10 and the internally mounted compressed air motor. In either case the motorlis provided with a transversely located drive shaft. For the sake of simplicity both the shaft I! which is an armature shaft shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclu sive and the shaft IZaofthe compressed..,air motor shown in 9 and 11 are. given the similar numerals. The structure set forth in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive will first be described.

n the front of the casings H3 and II is pivoted a plow member l3 having a, penetration edge l4 extending across the entire width of the plow. The plow I3 is pivoted on the bolts l5 which are fixed inicasi ngslll and ll. Thecasings H} and II are open on the major portion of the bottom side. Recessed areas I6 are provided in the sides of casings l0 and H, the inner walls ll of the recessed areas being provided; inu their-central portions with bearing studs [8 on which.;:are journalled the traction wheels l8. and 28. The traction wheels 19 and 20 areheld on'thestuds I8 by the screws IBa. The traction wheel '19 is on the far side of the machine in the casing Hi. In the lower portion of each.recess it :is a dust guard 2|, the lower edge of which is. radially aligned with the inner side of the adjacent wheel I9 or 20, see Fig. 4. This guard is for the purpose-of-preventing chipsof bark etc., from jumpingup into the geared mechanism. The wheels l9 and 20 freely turnonthe studs l8. 3 On -the recess wall 'l-l is a pinion gear 22-which =is keyed tothe motor-shaft-IE. A'stud23a is mounted'in the wall I! and forms a journal for gears 23 'and 24, the gear 23 meshingwith the pinion gear'22.

The=gear-24 is fixedto the gear 23 and meshes with a -gear 25 fixed to a pinion gear 26. Gears 25 and 26 are journalledon astud 2? mounted in the wall n. The wheels ii and 2B are hollow and are provided on their inner rims-within- --ternal-gear teeth 28. When the traction wheels l9 and 20'are mounted on thestuds l8;the pinions '26- engage with the internal gear teeth 12% of the wheels. 29 indicates spurs located on the outer --face of thetraction wheels. Within'the casings 1 0 and H mountedgin any suitable manner, an electricmotor, the numeral 30 (see Fig. -5)-i-ndicating the armature within-which is mounted the armature "shaft 12. It will thus be seen that-when the-motor armature rotates -in a-counterclockwise; direction, the wheelsi 9 and 20 also rotate in the same-direction and move the machine forward.

On each side of the-machine on the casings and 1 l is-located a;slidemember .3l which. has

portions of, a skirtlmoithe plow !3. 'When it is desired'to lock the plow It to thecasings 'IB and II the slides 3! are pushed ahead, thus engagingthe teeth 34 and 35. In this position the plow l3 islocked against pivot movementon the casings It and ll. When the slide is retracted, as in Fig. 3, the plow I3 is -free to pivot on the studs 15.

Fig. 2 showsthe machine in operationon the the logAB. 1:4! indicatesithe barkof the log being lifted by the plow :13. :When. in operation, the plow :l 3 may be controlled vertically bythe pera ors hand ripsjlfia and Ma by. holdi th wrist stiff and leaning forward-or backward. The same control ,is present when the pl ow;is free, as in Fig. 3. Since by rocking the-casing on the. wheels 19 ,a-ndLZD, theangle, between the plow edge M, the pivot 15, and. the .stud.l8 on which the wheels are journaleirnaybe varied in such a manner that the. plow edge .14 may be forced against the woodof the log. The bark II of the'log exerts downward pressure on the 4 pointed end of the plow forcing it against the log 40. The plow is interchangeable with other plows of sharper or duller edges or of difierent frontal curves. In logs having very thick bark the leading edge M of the plow will follow the cleavage line between tlue barl; and log with the plow freely pivoted on the pasings. In :;the case of'thinner barkthe plow may be locked at any desired angle and pressure applied by forwardly rocking the handles Illa and Ha.

; Anotherfeature of the machine is that, with ,the. plow either locked to the casing or unlocked,

the wheels. may be lifted from engagement with v t helogby using the pivot H: as a fulcrum point ment-with the.-log,.-without removing the plow and thereby permitting the motor to speed up, and then suddenly engaging the wheels with the log, so that the plow will thrust forward andthus break' down --resistance -to its movement. 'Ihe electric motor of the machine is controlled by switches [8b and Nb. One switch may be-an off and onswitch and the other areverse switch. Electric power is led ;to'the machine by means of a cable 59 connected with any suitable portable electric generator.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11-. the machine is motivated by compressed air. The only difierencesin this modification involve slight changes in casing structure to permit the substitution of an-air valveand conduit for an electric switch-and cable, and suitable-changes in internal construction to permit the substitution of an air motor for the'electric motor. I

InFig. 10 the drive shaft which engages the drive gears .is located in the same position as in the electric driven machine. A rotor fifl is lgeyedto the shaft-[212g A rotorchamberfilis formed one-half on one casjng and one hali on the other casing as indicatedat-Gl and 63. The rotor periphery is provided withtransverse air e ei i .s Qts.. W .m e ha te a r in ass 1 ha o hi i .f rme in nme in a. h.Qt f h l he Qth pas ns- ":Ii rotor slots 54 to h r.with t side wa ls 'ih rotor cham pro i e oc s .fifiin whicnth vair is pro ect a in t th rap port on 51.

.t erq o thu vingthe.rQ Qra ea Th .Casings 162 and ;531 'diff er. over the casings D. a d 1 .on y i thatth in erna mo n n 0f t ca i s filand 3 provide thexot n hamb etc., for the air operated motor while in theelectrio driven .type. suitable, mpuntings would be i ii'n she th e e tr ..m tor s a a w ndings v etc., any suitable mounting arrangement being used but not of importance in the p e nt. appli ation. t

Casings S2 and 53 provide bosses 10 through wh h h inl tpa eaee .65 cQmmu i at wit an air hose .line .7! Compressedair is furnished from any suitable source such as a portable air compressorofthe gasoline driven type which pan be,,rnov ed about .on asuitableautomobile truck inthe same manner that a-portable, electric {generator is utilized ,in the electric type .maohine. An air valvecontrol lever 15 is fulcrumed at 16 on the bosses H1. The operatingendlllof. the lever .1'5 extends. transversely. of, the-.. asing .62 to a pointclose to theoperatinghandlev Ilia and is. depressed .by the thumbpfi theoperator s rig-ht hand. A valve stem 8!! is locatedbelow, the. fulcrum end of the ,lever J5. A. compression. spring '85 normally holds the leverup as shown. Astop member 86 engageable against the offset portion 81 of the bosses l0 prevents the lever 15 and valve stem 89 from rising more than is required for the closing of the valve. Depressing the valve stem 8i? opens the valve, and admits compressed air to the rotor, the amount of pressure against the rotor vanes 61 being proportional to the valve opening and the pressure source.

The rest of the machine shown in Fig. 9 corresponds to the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive.

Any other traction surface for the wheels 19 and 20, such as round spikes, may be used if desired.

While the machine is shown travellingaround the diameter of a log it is not necessarily so limited in use. It is capable (especially on large logs) of operating longitudinally of the log or around the log in a spiral track, depending on the size of the log with respect to the width of the plow l3 etc.

While I have shown the present machine somewhat in detail yet it is to be understood that I may vary the shape and proportions and use equivalent structure well within the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, is:

1. A log peeling machine comprising a rear casing, a power drive shaft mounted within and transversely of said casing, traction wheels journalled on said casing and driven by said drive shaft, said wheels being recessed in outer sides of said casing, and means for engaging said shaft with said wheels, operating handles located on an upper rear portion of said casing, a barkremoving plow positioned in front of said casing and provided with side skirts and with a concave front wall having a sharp lower edge, said side skirts being pivoted to the front portion of said casing, and means for driving said shaft.

2. A log peeling machine comprising a casing, a power drive shaft mounted within and transversely of said casing, traction wheels journalled on said casing and driven by said shaft, operating handles located on an upper rear portion of said casing, a bark-removing plow positioned in front of said casing, said plow having a sharp forward lower edge, a concave front wall, and rearwardly extending side skirts having lower edge portions curving rearwardly and upwardly, and means pivotally connecting said side skirts to said casing, whereby said casing can be lifted out of contact with a log while said plow remains in bark-removing position.

3. A log peeling machine as set forth in claim 2, the lower rear edges of said skirts being provided with segmental gear teeth engageable with gear teeth formed on a slide member located on said casing.

4. A log peeling machine comprising a casing having recesses formed in its sidewalls, a compressed air motor located in said casing, a drive shaft mounted within said motor and transversely of said casing, traction wheels journalled on said casing and driven by said shaft through a gear train, said traction wheels being located in said recesses and protruding beyond lower portions of said casing, a bark-removing plow having sideskirts pivoted to front portions of said casing and having a concave front Wall terminating at its lower edge in a knife-like blade, said front wall merging along its upper edge into a top wall connecting said side skirts.

5. A log peeling machine as set forth in claim 4 and locking members provided on the sides of said casing, said locking members being engageable with locking means on the skirts of said plow member.

6. A log peeling machine comprising a motor casing, a motor driven shaft mounted within and transversely of said machine, traction wheels journalled on said casing and driven by said shaft, operating hand grips located on said casing and having motor control means adjacent to said handles, a plow member having a concave front wall and having side skirts, said plow skirts being pivoted to said casing, said front wall having a knife-like lower edge, and means for supplying motive power to said motor.

7. A log peeling machine as set forth in claim 6, and locking means provided between said casing and said plow member to prevent relative pivotal movement of said casing and plow member.

LESTER E. PHILLIPS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Jan. 16, 1932 

